Walking in Albania

Customer Reviews

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  Kerri Richards

  · September 22nd, 2013
  This is a new trip which still needs some work to get the balance right. It either needs a downgrading of the difficulty level or changes to the itinerary.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The walking from Thethi and in the Valbona Valley were fabulous days and definitely at a moderate level.  The scenery in both areas is simply stunning.  Watching a huge weather system move down the Valbona Valley, complete with thunder and lightning, was amazing.  Made me feel very small yet exhilerated!  Just beautiful - at least it was until the skies opened above us!What did you think of your group leader?Dorien (hope the spelling is right!) is a lovely guy who is very knowledgeable about his country.  He was able to provide interesting information on almost anything we could ask him.  He obviously loves his country and took pride in showing us the best of it.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?As the trip stands at the moment it is not a moderate walking trip.  There are two moderate walks at the beginning of the week and 4 very easy walks later in the week.  Personally I would place a leisurely/moderate rating on the trip as along with the easy walks there is a lot of travelling in the bus and sightseeing involved.  If you are looking for a physical holiday you need to be aware that this trip will not tire you out each day (unless it is tiredness from the over-eating you will do!). There are some very long bus journeys which are sometimes not very comfortable but the views at the end will make it worth while.  Is there anything else you would like to add?The Albanian people are fantastic, the food is great, the scenery is stunning.  Personally, I would have like a lot more harder walking on the trip but I still had a fabulous time in a beautiful country that I knew very little about.  I look forward to reading some of Albania's complicated history and hopefully gaining a better understanding of the people and country.
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Melinda Irwin

  · September 22nd, 2013
  I would give 5 stars to the first part of the trip - Thethi and Valbona National Parks, the walks, and the guest houses we stayed in were all fantastic and just what I was hoping for in my holiday. But the rest of the trip was a very slow paced cultural/culinary tour with no walking. Perhaps it would have been a shame if I visited a country with such a depth of history and just walked in the hills, but I think others booking should know what to expect from this 'Walking in Albania' trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Thethi and Valbona National ParksWhat did you think of your group leader?Our leader and driver were both great - full of motivation and enthusiasm for their country and showing it to others. Very inspiring people.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Just be aware of what you are booking. Albania is a very interesting country, and if you want to mix a few days walking with the rest relaxing, long lunches, dropping into museums/castles along the way, then this could still be a good choice.Is there anything else you would like to add?The map for the trip shows travel to the southern Llogara NP and walking areas near Berat. I think its fair to have assumed we were travelling there on a walking trip to do some further walks as in the northern NPs, but we did a drive to one lookout, and a 10 minute walk to another lookout there. No walking.
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Peter Burbridge

  · September 13th, 2013
  A few beautiful walks and then some sightseeing. Great country, lovely food, better hotels than I expected.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Walking in Thethi & Valbona was great.What did you think of your group leader?Julian was experienced, reasurring & knowledgable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers?The first two days are the walking, then the trip is mainly sightseeing. The walks are moderately challenging - mainly for the scree that you walk down. Worth it though. No special kit needed.There are some longish drives that are neccessary to see so much. Lovely to swim in the sea down in Vlore.The food was vast, amazing, filling and local. Lots of dairy and meat. Do try the local / house wine - it was remarkably good everywhere. Really. 
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Anna Fairhurst

  · September 1st, 2013
  The holiday is a mixture of walking and cultural sightseeing rather than a purely walking holiday. Albania is a wonderful country, with incredible mountains and superb History. Its tourist industry is only just beginning, meaning that some features (e.g. hotels) were less well developed than in other countries, but there was nothing which caused problems compared with the huge advantage of having people who wereproud of their country and who were so keen to make tourists feel welcome. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?This has to be the two days' glorious walking in the mountains of the North. The mountains are huge, high, dramatic and virtually free of signs of human habitation for hours on end. We saw a wide range of plants and bird life, but the main excitement was just being up there. The other highlights for me were a marvellous evening being entertained by traditional musicians and dancers after the second long mountain walk - I haven't laughed as much in months - and visiting Berat, a beautiful walled town which is just like walking back in time. It reminded me of Carcassonne but without the tourists - and with significantly more free raki from the most welcoming restaurant owner in Albania. What did you think of your group leader?Dorien is extremely knowledgeable about Albanian life and History, and is able to tell a story in such a way as to make it sound interesting to anyone. He is willing to talk about almost anything as well as remaining calm and cheerful all week. He was willing to listen to people's requests to alter little things, and is keen to take suggestions to keep improving the holiday.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?To get the most out of this holiday, you need to be a keen walker and interested in History, as well as not mind fairly significant bus rides. Most of our group had a walking pole and found it useful. Expect on the best walking days to be climbing continually for several hours as well as doing the same on the descent, over rocky ground. On a different note, we found that we only needed about £80 spending money as so much is included and everything is so relatively cheap. Oh yes, and take a raincoat into the mountains even if the weather is glorious, as it can become an electric thunderstorm in minutes.Is there anything else you would like to add?This was a truly fantastic holiday. Thank you.
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Joseph Phelan

  · August 6th, 2013
  A great introduction to the northern parts of this fascianting country!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Standing on top of Valbona pass, looking in the one direction down into Theth valley, and in the other Valbona valley. Remote, windswept, with huge white mountians all around. Awe inspiring stuff.What did you think of your group leader?Dorien was great, very frienly and knowedgable about his country.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Brings some sweets and snacks with you into the mountains! Once you start trekking, there are no shops for 3 or 4 days, so a bit of chocolate wouldn't go amiss.Is there anything else you would like to add?I loved it all. It was my second time in Albania, and I'll be heading back again next year. Friendly, beautiful (cheap!), with a fascinating history, it hasit all.
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  Trip date: August 2013
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  Peter Harris

  · July 31st, 2013
  Like the other nine people in my Exodus group I had only a vague preconceived image of what to expect in Albania ; possibly a rather drab, depressed society still struggling to free itself from the recent shackles of communism but with the compensatory prospect of some decent walking in a remote and little-known corner of Europe.The reality was almost overwhelming : the scenery (whether mountain or coastal) was stunning, towns and cities were bright and lively, clean, and seemingly safe; the depth of history and heritage was fascinating; and the locals were exceptionally friendly and welcoming wherever we went.
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  Trip date: July 2013
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  Jane Byrne

  · July 10th, 2013
  A fabulous holiday - superb landscape, wonderful ancient history, inspiring modern history, extremely hospitable people, we were treated like guests not tourists and the walking was good too!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Walking - completing the first days walk, much tougher than I had expected.  On the second day I hitched a lift on the luggage mule and although it was unorthodox I amazed myself by not falling off.  On all walks there were amazing views of unspoilt landscapeFood for thought - the lonely cemetery in a Kosovan field, 400 graves , all male, all killed on the same day.  A sombre thought provoking moment in a week of fun and laughter.History - the Apollonia site with explanation by the archaeologist in charge - erudite and easy to listen to.Folklore - seeing real people performing with pride just for Exodus, an initiative to increase the local prosperity and pride.Discovery - being a pioneer, not only of this trip but in terms of visiting a country still largely unknown to the EnglishResult - coming home to find 2 inches off my waist and 6lbs gone despite the generous meals!What did you think of your group leader?Our group leader was Dorien.  He was superb - full of knowledge about the history of his country and its present position.  His own experiences of growing up under communism and adapting to the present made the history real.  As this was the first Walking in Albania trip there were a few wrinkles, including the difficulty of one of the walks and the unfortunate sickness of one of our drivers but Dorien coped admirably with all difficulties.  He was unfailingly cheerful and has a vast expertise in getting things done in Albania.  Dorien and other members of his company worked tirelessly to ensure the holiday was the success that it was.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Personally I found the walking difficult - more difficult than Trins for example.  The paths are consistently steep and rocky and poles are essential.  In the mountain accommodation a torch is useful as electricity might fail.  The road travel is slow because of the state of minor roads, but this gives ample time to admire the scenery or listen to the group leader.Fresh spring water is available everywhere and the food is good - very substantial in the mountains based on meat and dairy and lighter in the centre and south.  In Berat try the local Chardonnay - wonderfulIs there anything else you would like to add?Albania is a fabulous destination, we only saw a fraction.  It is worth going while it is still relatively undiscovered.  It is great for history buffs, great for landscape and great for the friendly, welcoming people.There are alterations that could be made to the itinerary - the start date and itinerary should be altered  so that the visit to Gjakove is NOT on Sunday when the historic bazaar is closed.  There are opportunities to spend more time in Kosovo and walk there and there is good accommodation near the Pellumbras cave which would make a good overnight base.  Although I personally loved the visit to Apollonia this could be dropped if it was decided to put more emphasis on walking.  I did love the holiday as it was, these comments are offered to improve it and make  even more special.
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  Trip date: July 2013